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Competition Class
In this class, students learn variations form the classical repertoire and prepare themselves to compete at local, national and international competitions. Students must receive the invitation of their teacher to be accepted into the competition class. Considerations for acceptance include: how many times per week the student takes class, whether the student is working seriously in class or not, participation in school performances and summer intensives, and level of technical ability. Students must take the minimum number of classes recommended for their level to be admitted to competition preparation. The time it takes to become ready to participate in a competition depends upon the competition, your current technique and how quickly you are improving. It may take a year or two of competition classes to prepare a student to compete. Students who do not wish to compete, but who simply want to learn the classical repertoire will also be considered for this class.
The class is not open to those who are students of ballet at any other dance school.
Contemporary Choreography
Many competitions require a contemporary variation as most ballet companies perform a contemporary repertoire as well as a classical one. Our teachers can refer you to quality contemporary choreographers who work with school. The cost of creating a piece usually includes a fee for the piece and a fee for a series of private lesson during which the piece is taught. Creating a contemporary piece usually begins one year in advance. Many of our students use our summer intensive as a time to have their pieces choreographed.
Why Compete?
Competitions offer students the immediate and concrete goal of preparing a variation to perform before a panel of judges. We feel it is a great incentive to growth. At competition, students also have the opportunity to see their peers from other schools and get a feeling for the level of accomplishment in the world outside their own studio.
Applications and Deadlines
It is your responsibility to look online and obtain the applications, fill them out and submit them on time. For many competitions this can be a lengthy process involving the submission of videos of class and variations and photographs, as well as letters of recommendation. The main ballet competitions our students attend are:
Helsinki International Ballet Competition (a professional level competition)
USA International Ballet Competition-Jackson (a professional level competition)
Prix de Lausanne (an international school competition)
Spotlight (a local competition for high school students sponsored by the Music Center)
New York International Ballet Competition
Varna (a professional level competition)
Youth America Grand Prix (a regional school competition)
Youth America Grand Prix (New York-the finals and international round, school competition)
Ages
Helsinki International Ballet Competition- Junior-ages 15-18, Senior-ages 19-25
USA International Ballet Competition, Jackson-Junior 15-18, Senior 19-26
Spotlight (LA Music Center)-High School Aged Students
Youth America Grand Prix – Pre-Competitive 9-11, Junior 12-14, Senior 15-19
Prix de Lausanne- ages 16 to 18 years
Varna – Junior Category ages 15-19, Senior Category ages 20-26
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